Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-26

The uncertain, ehangeable, misunderstanding
policy Of the United States towards the Indians
has often been made a subject of complaint. A
body OF western settlers has now, at the instance
OF the Indians and their advocates. similar grew
ance. IL is not necessary to discuss what rights.
II any, the Indians had in the winnebag6 and
Crow Creek reservations. The executive branch
OF the United states government decided that they
had none, and on February =, 1885, President Ar
thur threw open the reservations to settlement.
il is said with truth that the first advantage OF
the opening of the reservations was enjoyed by
land SPECTATORS who had early information of the
intention OF the government to take this step. But
these were not the only persons who entered the
reservations after President Arthurs order and be-
fore that OF President Cleveland revOklng IL. Re-
lying upon the action OF the United States in de-
claring the reservations public land and inviting
settlement hundreds OF persons not only from
Dakota, but from Minnesota and Iowa entered and
settled in good faith. building houses and blowing
land sometimes selling out property at a disad-
vantage at their former homes. In order to make
the change, with the long journey and heavy ex-
penSeS at the outset. The United States having
invited these settlers there after period OF delay
notified them in effect through President C1eve-
land that a mistake had been made, and that they
must abandon their homes, and without cOmpen-
satiOn, and a military company has been ordered
10 the reservations Some OF the settlers are stub
born and refuse to leave without compensation. Ii
the promises OF the United States 10 the Indians
were OF such character. as construed by President
Cleveland as 20 justify him In overruling the con-
trary construction and decision of his predecessor
and In revOking an executive order which had been
acted upon In good faith, then the implied promise
to settlers involved in the formal opening OF the
reservations 70 settlement should be observed by
the United states to the extent, at least, OF Sc
curing considerable treatment and compensation to
lnisled and injured by the contradictory acts OF
vacillating government.
As suggested at the outset in these columns the
Schnaebees incident may not turn out so dreadful
an affair As the sensational nPwsgatherers pro-
posed to make 1T. The first question at issue be-
tween the French and German gOvernmentsis OF
course as to the manner OF the arrest. IL it can
be definitely settled. the French authorities say
II can, that SchnaebeeS was fraudulently decoyed
across the frontier. the whole matter probably
ends there Prince Bismarck is hardly likely to
defy every rule OF International ethics by holding
fast to political prisoner captured in that fashion
The accusations against the captive are of no
common crimes. IL he had committed theft or
forgery or breach OF trust German soil and the
detectives had lured him back by sharp trick
the most the French Government would have felt
called upon to do would have been to see to it,
through its diplomatic representatives that the
man lad fair trial and sentence In
accordance with local Law and usage. But
In the present instance 1t Is different.
SchnaebeleS was public functionary,
summoned. by what he supposed was official au-
thority exercised in good faith, to repair to the
boundary and do a certain piece OF work which
would require his passing into Germany. His
seizure at the frontier for Vaccinations against
the state, even though In German territory, would
he open TO eensure II accomplished by such means;
but the case becomes far stronger If, the French
assert, his captOrs followed him across the border
into France. When the whole matter shall have
been investigated, 1t Is probable that the German
government win treat 1t just as any other civil
lied government would, and, II Schnaebeles can
make out his he states it, there will be
an apology and an acceptance; he and his Incl
dent viii drop back again into the obscurtty from
which they mOmentarily emerged.